Starting mechanism for torpedoes



Aug" 20, m6.

L. D. ALDERMAN STARTING MECHANISM FOR TORPEDOES Filed March 31, 1945 [111/622 for Leon D/Ha er'man Patented Aug. 20, 1946 STARTING MECHANISM FOR TORPEDOES Leon D. Alderman, Beverly, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey 'Application March 31, 1945, Serial No. 585,864

8 Claims.

This invention relates to torpedoes and more particularly to torpedoes adapted to be released from aircraft.

An object of this invention is to provide improved mechanism for initiating operation of the propelling means of the torpedo upon impact of the torpedo with the water. More specifically it isan object of the invention to provide improved mechanism located in the jet tube of a jet propelled torpedo for igniting the propelling charge of the torpedo in response to deceleration of the torpedo upon its impact with the water.

In the accomplishment of the above and in accordance with a feature of the invention, at the outlet end of the jet tube is mounted a, cap, housing an inertia block normally held in a central position. When the torpedo hits the water this inertia block moves, regardless of the position of the torpedo upon its entrance into the water, to release a latch which normally locks a hammer in retracted position against the force of a spring. Upon the release of the latch the hammer sets off a fuse, burning gases from which pass through a small tube which extends centrally of the jet tube and which with the fuse and associated mechanism is carried by the cap. The cap in turn is secured to the outlet end of the jet tube by shear pins. Forwardly of and adjacent to the small tub is a charge of powder which is ignited by the burning gases exhausted from the tube and this in turn ignites the propelling charge. A rubber plug is carried by the small tube at the restricted portion of the jet tube to support the forward end of the small tube centrally of the jet tube. This plug is immediately consumed by the intense heat created by the ignition of the booster charge or forced back on the tube 22 by the pressure created, which pressure acts on the inner side of the cap to force the tube and cap rearwardly, the shear pins rupturing whereupon the entire initiator mechanism is ejected clear of the jet tube.

The above and other features of the invention, together with various details of construction and novel combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described in detail by reference to the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through one form stern portion of which is illustrated herein. In the stern portion of the torpedo is secured a jet tube I2 having a restricted portion 54 for the rearward passage of gases emitted from the burning of a charge of propelling fuel carried within the torpedo forwardly of the entrance of the jet tube.

Threaded onto the exit end of the tube I2 is a ring I5 carrying shear pins l8 by which a cap til is releasably held at the outlet end of the tube. Secured to the cap and extending forwardly thereof is a small tube 22 which extends centrally of the jet tube and terminate just rearwardly of the entrance thereof adjacent to a charge of powder 24 arranged upon ignition thereof to ignite the propelling charge in the torpedo located directly ahead of the powder charge 24. The tube 22 carries a rubber locating plug Zia which engages the Walls of the passageway through the jet tube 12 at the restriction M. Upon ignition of the powder charge 2 5, the plug is consumed by the intense heat created or forced back on the tube 22 by the pressure created, which pressure is exerted on the inner side of the cap 28 whereupon the cap and the mechanism to be described which i carried thereby is ejected from the jet tube, the shear pins 18 rupturing under the force created by the pressure.

For igniting the powder charge 24 a pair of fuses 23 are housed in a casing 30 at the rear end of the tube 22. These fuses each include a primer 32 arranged to be set off by a firing pin 34 to ignite a slow burning powder 36 which in turn ignites a charge of flash powder 38. Burning gases from the charge of flash powder in each fuse pass through the tube 22 thereby to ignite the powder charge 24.

For operating the firing pins 36 a hammer $8 is mounted for sliding movement in a casing 42 rearwardly of the firing pins 34, the casing 42 being secured to the forward portion of the cap The hammer is urged forwardly by a spring to exert a blow on the firing pins 34 but the hammer is normally held in retracted position as illustrated until the torpedo has struck the water after being released from an aircraft. For

purpose the hammer 49 is carried by a rearwardly extending stem having a shouldered portion t8 arranged to be engaged by a latch 50 pivoted at 52 in th cap it and normally held in looking position by a compression spring 54. The latch 5Q is connected by a link 55 to a lever 58 pivoted at 56 in the cap 29 and having a head 62 engageable with a conical depression in an inertia block 84 which is normally maintained in a central position in the cap 20 on a conical support 66 secured in the outer end of the cap. The spring 54, in addition to maintaining the latch 50 in looking engagement with the stem 45 of the hammer 40, also acts through the head 62 to maintain the inertia block in its central position.

The lever 58 is locked in the position shown in Fig. 1, until it is desired to use the torpedo, by a locking pin 68 passing through the lever 53 and through the cap 29 as shown in Fig. 2 thereby preventing accidental, premature ignition of the fuel charge. One end of the pin 68 carries a head engaged by a compression spring 12 confined in an outwardly extending boss 14 of the cap to urge the locking pin toward the right as viewed in Fig. 2 out of engagement with the lever 58. A cotter pin 16 passes through the pin 68 at its other end thereby to prevent removal of the pin by the spring I2. A cap 18 encloses the end of the pin containing the cotter pin 16. When the torpedo is loaded in an aircraft the cap i8 is removed and a wire attached to the plane is passed through an aperture 80 in the pin 63 and the cotter pin 16 is removed. The wire holds the pin 68 in position until the actual release of the torpedo at which time it is withdrawn from the pin and the spring 12 forces the pin 68 out of engagement with the lever 58 so that this lever may move in response to movement of the inertia block 64.

Upon entrance of the torpedo into the water the inertia block 54 moves in response to the deceleration of the torpedo and regardless of the direction of movement of this block which will depend upon the manner in which the torpedo enters the water, clockwise movement will be imparted to the lever 58 against the force of the spring 54. Accordingly, the latch 58 is released from the shouldered portion 418 of the stem 46 and the spring M forces the hammer 48 into engagement with the firing pins 34 setting off the primers 32 and igniting the timing powder 35 which in turn ignites the flash powder 38 sending a flame through the tube 22 to the charge of powder 24 at the entrance of the jet tube. This powder now burns igniting the main propelling charge in the torpedo and exerting a high pressure on the forward portion of the cap after the plug 26 is consumed by the intense heat or forced rearwardly on the tube 22, whereupon the shear pins i8 rupture and the cap 20 and the mechanism carried thereby is expelled rearwardly from the jet tube. The tube is now clear of any restrictions which would impede the flow of propelling gases through the jet tube whereupon the torpedo is propelled through the water toward its target.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a torpedo adapted to be released from an aircraft and containing a fuel charge arranged upon ignition to propel the torpedo, means for causing ignition of said fuel charge, a member spring-urged toward operative position for operating said ignition means, a latch holding said member in retracted position, and an inertia block operative upon impact of the torpedo with the water for releasing said latch.

2. In a jet propelled torpedo adapted to be dropped from an aircraft and provided with a fuel charge which upon ignition emits a propellant from the stern of the torpedo, said torpedo having a jet tube in its stern through which the propellant passes, means in said tube operative in response to deceleration of the torpedo upon hitting the water for igniting said propellant, said means being constructed and arranged to be expelled from the torpedo to provide an unobstructed passageway for the propellant.

3. In a torpedo containing a charge of propelling fuel which upon burning-emits gases which pass rearwardly from the torpedo, said torpedo having a passageway in its after portion provided with a restriction through which the burning gases pass to provide a jet for propelling the torpedo, means in said passageway for ighiting said charge of propelling fuel in response to impact of the torpedo with the water, and means for releasably securing said last named means in said passageway whereby it is blown therefrom during ignition of said charge thereby to clear said passageway.

4. In a torpedo containing a charge of propelling fuel which upon burning emits gases which pass rearwardly from the torpedo, said torpedo having a passageway in its after portion provided with a restriction through which the burning gases pass to provide a jet for propelling the torpedo, means for causing ignition of said fuel charge, a hammer arranged to be moved by a spring to operate said ignition means, a latch cooperating with said hammer to hold the hammer in retracted position, an inertia block operative in response to deceleration of the torpedo as it strikes the water for releasing said latch, and means for releasably mounting said ignition means, said latch and said inertia block in said passageway in position to be discharged therefrom upon ignition of said fuel charge.

5. In a torpedo having a passageway in its after portion provided with a restriction and a charge of propelling fuel which upon burning emits gases which pass rearwardly from the passageway to propel the torpedo, mechanism in said passageway operative in response to impact of the torpedowith the water'for igniting said charge of propelling fuel, shear pins for securing said mechanism within said passageway, said mechanism comprising a member responsive to the pressure created forwardly thereof during ignition of said fuel charge for causing rupture of said pins and discharge of said mechanism from the passageway.

6. In a torpedo having a passageway in its after portion provided with a restriction and a charge of propelling fuel which upon burning emits gases which pass rearwardly from the passageway to propel the torpedo, a powder charge at the entrance of said passageway positioned to ignite said fuel when the powder charge is ignited,

means in the outer end of said passageway for igniting said powder charge in response to impact of the torpedo with the water, and means mounting said ignition means in said passageway and responsive to the pressure created forwardly thereof upon ignition of the powder charge for expelling said ignition means from the passageway.

7. In a torpedo having a passageway in its after portion provided with a restriction and a charge of propelling fuel which upon burning emits gases which pass rearwardly from the passageway to propel the torpedo, a fuse in the outer end of said passageway, mechanism rearwardly of said fuse for setting off the fuse in response to impact of the torpedo with the water, a tube extending forwardly of the passageway from said fuse for the passage of burning gases, a powder charge in the forward end of the passageway arranged to be ignited by the burning gases from the fuse and to ignite the fuel charge, and means releasably mounting said fuse, tube and mechanism as a unit in the passageway, said means including a member obstructing the passageway whereupon the pressure built up forwardly of said member upon burning of the powder charge forces the unit from said passageway.

8. In a torpedo containing a fuel charge which upon ignition emits gases which pass rearwardly from the torpedo, said torpedo having a passageway in its after portion provided with a restriction through which the burning gases pass to provide a jet for propelling the torpedo, a cap at the outer end of said passageway, shear pins for releasably securing said cap in the outer end of it into firing position, a latch for locking said hammer in retracted position and arranged upon movement of said inertia block caused by deceleration of the torpedo when it enters the water for releasing said latch, a powder charge located in the forward portion of said passageway for igniting said fuel charge, a tube extending from said fuse to said powder charge to conduct the burning gases from the fuse to ignite the powder charge, said tube being carried by said cap, and a rubber locating member carried by said tube at the restricted portion of said passageway rearwardly of the powder charge, said member being consumable by the intense heat created when the powder charge is ignited, the pressure created by ignition of the powder charge acting on said cap to rupture said shear pins and eject the cap and the parts carried thereby from the passageway.

LEON D. ALDERMAN. 

